White Lake Board Candidates Report Campaign Contributions

Someone is paying for the mailings and lawn signs of candidates running for White Lake Township's local offices, but who?

Under Michigan campaign finance law that information is public record and must be filed with the Oakland County clerk's office.

A candidate's committee to elect must file annual campaign statements as well as pre- and post-election campaign statements for elections where the candidate's name appears on the ballot, including the Aug. 7 primary.

The deadline for filing pre-primary statements was July 27. According to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Treasurer candidate Mike Roman reported the most contributions with $7,050, while trustee candidates Scott Ruggles and Rik Kowall reported the fewest, less than $2,000.

The following information is based on reports filed with the county clerk.

Supervisor

Incumbent Greg Baroni

• Total Contributions: $5,100
• Spent: $5,052.36
• Remaining: $47.64
• Baroni did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.  

Matt Sprader

• Total Contributions: $3,495
• Spent: $2,947.32
• Remaining: $547.68
• $100+ Contributors: Kenneth and Barbara Rasche, $200 retired and based in Rogers City; James and Kathleen Economy, $200 retired and based in Highland; Jeffrey Hanche, $200 attorney based in Commerce; John and Diane Gregory, $100 based in Highland; Deborah Burmeister, $100 based in Waterford; John Welker, $100 based in White Lake; and Todd Burmeister, $340 owner of Oxbow Window based in White Lake.

Michael Smith

• The Friends of Michael D. Smith group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Clerk

Incumbent Terry Lilley

• Total Contributions: $4,407.14
• Spent: $2,699.15
• Remaining: $1,707.99
• $100+ Contributors: Robert Hoffman, $100 based in Waterford; Robert Hoffman $100 based in White Lake; Michael Clarke, $500 based in Belleville; Terry Broemer, $100 based in West Bloomfield; Greg Gucwa, $100 based in Davison; Greg Need, $100 based in Bloomfield Hills; Gregory Coursen, $100 based in Farmington Hills; Howard Shifman, $100 based in Birmingham; Chris Barbat, $100 based in White Lake; Todd Burmeister, $100 based in White Lake; Roy Caswell, $100 based in White Lake; John Hedrick, $100 based in White Lake; Jessica Koski, $100 based in White Lake; Bob Lessa, $100 based in White Lake; Ted Lilley, $100 based in White Lake; Stan Piatkowski, $100 based in White Lake; Gene Ryeson, $100 based in White Lake; Dave Sioma, $100 based in Clarkston.

Kelly Knight

• The Friends of Kelly J. Knight for Clerk group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Laura Vogel

• Total Contributions: $3,515.42
• Spent: $3,210.49
• Remaining: $304.93
• $100+ Contributors: John VanOphem, $100 based in Milford; Laura Vogel, $2,814.

Treasurer

Incumbent Jay Brendel

• Total Contributions: $2,000
• Spent: $1,656.46
• Remaining: $343.54
• Brendel did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.

Mike Roman

• Total Contributions: $7,050
• Spent: $4,770.83
• Remaining: $2,279.17
• Roman did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.

Trustee

Incumbent Todd Birkle

• The Friends of Todd Birkle group filed a reporting waiver in  stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Incumbent Carol Burkard

• The Committee to Elect Carol Burkard group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Mark DeGroff

• Total Contributions: $2,000
• Spent: $1,643.48
• Remaining: $356.52
• DeGroff did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.

Randy Hebert

• The Randy Hebert group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Rik Kowall

• Total Contributions: $1,886.30
• Spent: $1,866.30
• Remaining: $0
• Kowall did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.

Incumbent David Lewsley

• Total Contributions: $2,737.76
• Spent: $2,737.76
• Remaining: $0
• Lewsley did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.

Patti Page

• The Committee to Elect Patti Page for Township Trustee group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Incumbent Mike Powell

• The Committee to Elect Michael Powell group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Scott Ruggles

• Total Contributions: $1,035
• Spent: $1,035
• Remaining: $0
• Ruggles did not take any contributions, instead donating his own money to pay for the campaign.

Andrea Voorheis

• The Committee to Elect Andrea C. Voorheis group filed a reporting waiver stating the group did not expect to receive or expend in excess of $1,000 in the election. When this request is made, the filing requirements of pre, post and annual campaign statements is waived according to the Oakland County Clerk's Office.

Under Michigan campaign finance law, if a contributor donates more than $100 total to a campaign, they must also provide their occupation and employer information. The pre-primary statements are available in PDF form on the clerk's website.